Environmental management system

Like other government agencies, Halmstad University has an obligation to work with sustainable development. Sustainable development must be promoted in order to ensure current and future generations a healthy and good environment, economic and social welfare and justice.

Through the vision and goals, the University will work for a good living environment and through knowledge and research accelerate and further develop a sustainable society. The University has joined the Climate framework for higher education institutions which has been prepared in collaboration between Swedish universities.

The University’s environmental management system aims for long-term work with sustainable development by integrating environmental considerations into ordinary activity planning and quality assurance work, both in education, research and administrative support as well as in collaboration with the surrounding society. The environmental management system provides structure for environmental work and helps the organisation to handle the various parts of planning, implementation, follow-up and improvement of University activities.

Environmental goals, sustainability goals and activities

Every year, the University Governing Board points out priority areas within, among other things, sustainability. These are supplemented with Vice-Chancellor assignments that concretise the goals.

The work with the environment and sustainable development must be based on overall goals and assignments, the University’s policy for sustainable development, environmental investigation, the climate framework and other guidelines that concern environmental aspects. The sustainability aspects must affect both direct and indirect impacts and be linked to Agenda 2030.

Sustainability goals and activities are developed further by the University’s four Schools and the administrative support in plans, quality rassurance eports and educational programme follow-ups.

Evaluation will take place in annual reports, quality assurance reports and the annual report.

Environmental audit and investigation

Environmental audits must be carried out annually. During the environmental audits, a review is made of how the University complies with the requirements that exist in the area of environment and sustainable development. This applies to requirements in laws and regulations as well as voluntary commitments that Halmstad University has chosen to adopt. Design and implementation are described in more detail in a separate audit plan.

According to the ordinance, an investigation must be made of the environmental impact that the University’s internal and external activities may lead to (environmental investigation). The environmental investigation will be kept up to date by reviewing and updating it in the event of significant changes in the University's activities or at least every fifth year. The investigation will contain information on the environmental requirements in law and other statutes that concern the University.

Communication and education

The environmental and sustainability work must be communicated to employees and students. In order for employees and students to be able to influence the environmental and sustainability work, the communication also aims to capture suggestions and opinions.

The Ministry of Education, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Higher Education Authority follow up the University’s work by reviewing quality systems and through thematic evaluations.